PA DCED: New Round of State Investments Will Help Agriculture, Tourism Industries Expand in Adams, Union Counties

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

May 11, 2010, 11:53 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New state investments will help build an egg production facility in Adams County, while jump-starting a new hotel near Bucknell University and enabling a farm to expand in Union County, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary George Cornelius said today.

"These investments will inject nearly $6 million in private investment into Pennsylvania's economy, supporting expansion in our two largest industries -- agriculture and tourism," Cornelius said. "These kinds of projects create jobs, sustain rural communities and bring visitors and their tourism dollars into the state."

The three projects for which the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved loans at its meeting today include:

A $200,000 Small Business First agriculture loan to Dale and Sharon Hess for building renovations at their turkey farm in New Oxford, Adams County. The loan will be applied to a $1.3 million conversion of their current operation into a cage-free egg production, and for machinery and equipment.
A $172,000 First Industries Small Business First agriculture loan to the SEDA Council of Governments, on behalf of James and Verna Reiff, who operate a poultry and goat farm in Mifflinburg, Union County. The loan will be used to purchase an 11.5-acre farm for $430,000.
A $200,000 Small Business First tourism loan to the SEDA Council of Governments, on behalf of Charlie Boy LLC and C.C. Holdings LLC for a $4.7 million, 60-room, three-story hotel in Lewisburg, Union County. The hotel will be near Bucknell University and tourist attractions such as the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum and Stadium, local antique shops and wine trails.

For more information on programs available through the Commonwealth Financing Authority or the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit www.newpa.com or call 1-866-466-3972.